Polarized magnetic system for relays



June 23, 1959 WANTOSCH 2,892,055

POLARIZED MAGNETIC SYSTEM FOR RELAYS 2 Sheetsz-.-Shee't.- 1

Filed Aug. 21, 1956 j liljjl I Y /0 I v Tu l \i:

June 23, 1959 .1. WANTOSCH 2,892,055

POLARIZED MAGNETIC SYSTEM FOR RELAYS Filed Aug. 21, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2" T iqJL,

INVENTOR United States Patent POLARIZED MAGNETIC SYSTEM FOR RELAYS Josef Wantosch, Berlin-Reinickendorf, Germany, as-

signor to VEB Werk fiir Signalund Sicherungstechmk Berlin, Berlin-Treptow, Germany Application August 21, 1956, Serial No. 605,301

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-93) This invention relates to magnetic systems and is directed particularly to an improved magnetic system for use in polarized relays of the type used for example in railroad signalling and protective apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved magnetic system for polarized magnets having a plurality of switch contact sets and alternating and permanent flux circuits which results in increased sensitivity and improved switching performance.

According to the invention, the improved magnetic structure for use in relays of the character described comprises a magnetic circuit having a pair of operating magnetic air gaps between which a two-armed armature is swingably mounted about its center of gravity, wherein the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet passes from both its north and south poles through respective ones of the air gaps and through the armature. By virtue of the two-armed armature thus being arranged between two working air gaps, any so-called dead air gaps are eliminated from the magnetic system, thereby resulting in a substantial increase in response sensitivity of the relay.

According to another feature of the invention, an especially powerful magnet, preferably a permanent magnet, is used for furnishing the permanent magnetic flux, whereby the response sensitivity is still further enhanced. The magnetic arrangement according to the invention further allows the armature having the movable contact sets to be simply mounted for motion about its center of gravity axis, which has the additional advantage that the contact system will not be sensitive to impact-like shaking because the left and right turning moments thereby effected in the armature will cancel each other. Also, the armature axis can carry a greater number of contact sets as compared with known relays, which contacts also, as relates to the quality of switching performance, may practicably be equivalent. This is of particular importance when the magnetic system according to the invention is used in the construction of railroad protective relays wherein it is required that a plurality of contacts be switched in a single switching operation. At the same time upon the combining together of two contacts, it is guaranteed that all other contacts in the same set will be held fast.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with sections of the permanent magnet broken away, of a polarized relay embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view in cross section of the relay shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the relay, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the relay.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates two soft iron magnetic cores, arranged parallel to each other, each carrying an excitation winding 2 and having openings in their upper sides. A permanent magnet 3 is arranged above the windings 2, but underneath the openings in the magnetic cores 1, said magnet being isolated from the soft iron cores by non-magnetically conductive material 6. Each pole end of the permanent magnet 3 carries a soft iron bridge member 4 each of which is provided with two magnetic flux disseminating pins 5 by means of which the flux of the permanent magnet 3 is conducted to both pole faces of each alternating flux magnetic system. This occurs because the flux disseminating pins 5 for the permanent flux, which have a known magnetic resistance to the soft iron cores 1, from which they are separated by the non-magnetic material 6, are inserted in the pole ends of said cores. In this way the polarized magnetic system is provided with two working air gaps 7, between which an armature 8, journalled about its center of gravity axis, swings.

The permanent flux from the permanent magnet 3 is divided by means of the bridges 4 and the disseminating pins 5 into each alternating magnetic circuit and conducted in a closed magnetic circuit over the working air gaps 7 and through the armature 8. By means of this construction, deleterious air gaps are eliminated from the magnetic system, since the flux emanating from the north and south poles N and S of the permanent magnet 3 is always conducted over a working air gap and in this way is utilized to strengthen armature movement. Mounted on the elongated axis 9 of the armature 8 is a contact arrangement 10 which will operate without contact bouncing.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that various omissions, or changes in arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a polarized magnetic system for relays, the com bination comprising, a pair of magnetic circuits including windings and arranged parallel to each other in spaced relation, each of said magnetic circuits including a pair of poles defining an air gap therebetween, said air gaps being in register with each other, a bar armature arranged between said magnetic circuits, said armature being journalled about its center of gravity axis and having its opposite ends disposed in one each of said air gaps, and means providing a permanent magnetic flux extending through said armature and through said air gaps, said permanent magnetic flux means having one pole connected only to one of said pairs of poles and having an opposite pole connected only to the other of said pairs of poles for conducting the permanent magnet flux unidirectionally through the armature from one end to the other end thereof.

2. In a polarized magnetic system for relays, the combination comprising, a pair of substantially independent magnetic circuits arranged parallel to each other in spaced relation throughout their lengths, an air gap in each of said magnetic circuits, said air gaps being in register with each other, a two-armed bar armature arranged between said magnetic circuits, said armature being journalled about its center of gravity axis and having an outer end of each arm disposed in one each of said air gaps, a permanent magnet arranged between said pair of magnetic circuits, and means for connecting each pole of said magnet to one of said magnetic circuits only for conducting the permanent magnet fiux unidirectionally through the armature from one end to the other end thereof.

3. In a polarized magnetic relay, the combination comprising, a pair of soft iron magnetic cores, an energizing winding on each of said cores, said cores being disposed in spaced parallel relation, each of said cores having a pair of opposite pole faces defining an air gap therebetween, said air gaps being in registration with each other, a two-armed armature arranged between said magnetic cores, said armature being journalled about its center of gravity axis and having an end of each arm disposed in one each of said air gaps, a permanent magnet arranged between said pair of magnetic cores and having at each pole a pair of rod-shaped pole pieces, each pair of which extends into one each of said cores at each side of its gap.

4. In a polarized magnetic system for relays, the combination comprising, a pair of soft iron magnetic cores, each provided with an energizing winding, said cores being disposed in spaced parallel relation, each of said cores terminating in a pair of opposite poles defining an air gap therebetween, said air gaps being in registration with each other, a two-armed armature arranged between said magnetic cores, said armature being journalled about its center of gravity axis and having an end of each arm disposed in one each of said air gaps, a permanent magnet arranged between said pair of magnetic cores, said permanent magnet having its N pole connected to each of the pair of poles of one of said cores and its S pole connected to each of the pair of poles of the other of said cores.

5. The magnetic system as defined in claim 1 wherein said permanent magnetic flux producing means includes a permanent bar magnet said magnet and said armature being substantially parallel to each other and transverse to said magnetic circuits.

6. The magnetic system as defined in claim 2 wherein said armature is provided with an elongated structure symmetrically with respect to its center of gravity axis, and a plurality of electrical contact sets arranged on said structure.

7. A polarized magnetic relay according to claim 4, wherein a soft iron bridge member abuts said permanent magnet at each pole thereof, each of said bridge members being connected with a pair of rod-shaped pole pieces, each pair of said rod-shaped pole pieces extending into one each of said pair of poles of each core at each side of its gap.

8. A polarized magnetic relay according to claim 7, wherein said rod-shaped pole pieces are magnetically insulated from said soft iron cores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,988 Buhl Apr. 4, 1916 1,886,372 Bossart Nov. 8, 1932 2,336,782 Eckhardt Dec. 14, 1943 2,636,094 Russell Apr. 21, 1953 2,741,728 Distin Apr. 10, 1956 2,811,602 Rommel et a1. Oct. 29, 1957 

